Swan Lake works its magic and leave its mark

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake, The Next Generation

Theatre Royal, Plymouth

****

If you want dance to make an impression on your audience this is how to do it! Powerful, invigorating and heart wrenching, Matthew Borune's Swan Lake continues to work its magic and leave its mark.

Dubbed Swan Lake for The Next Generation, this production of the celebrated show includes principal dancers who have all risen from the ranks of Bourne's New Adventures company and it is fantastic to see them reach this pinnacle and excel.

This tour, marking 30 years since the original premiered, continues the circle of inspiration as those who were driven on by the work first-time round help lift the dancers of the future with their own memorable performances..

You can see why it was so transformational at the time of its opening. It smashed boundaries, working away from the norm and expectations to become an iconic dance piece for our nation featuring in film such as Billy Elliott.

These dancer have grown up with it always being there and indeed most of them were not born when it premiered in 1995. The idea which saw Bourne replace the female corps-de-ballet with male swans has shifted the axis of the dance world and undoubtedly brought so much new talent into the industry.

The production centre's around a young prince seemingly tortured by his dreams and desires and wrestling to find love and affection in a world of scrutiny where all eyes are on him and his stand offish mother, The Queen.

After a run in with a girlfriend it appears she is only after fame and fortune but when he meets the Swan in a city park he is uplifted for life again until the Royal Ball brings him crashing down to his reality. James Lovell's striking portrayal of the tragic Prince was melancholy and moving.

Jackson Fische as The Swan/The Stranger is dynamic and menacing and along with the magnificent male flock create a brooding beauty as they arch, hiss and forcefully command the room. They fill every corner of the stage with potency and seemed to be everywhere. I was in fact shocked at the finale their number seemed so few as they make such an impression in their famed swan leg costumes designed by Lez Brotherston.

Bourne's choreography is clean and impactful. It shows off the impressive athleticism of the company but also lets us enjoy dance with ease and accessible plotline.

Here the tragedy is at times dark with an horrific underbelly as nurses faces are contorted with masks to resemble twisted versions of the Queen.

performed across the globe picking up awards and changing the lives of Bourne and the dancers and company involved.

If you have not seen it before it will certainly transform how you see dance. It is the most successful dance production of all time and I think it will be some time until another can eclipse that achievement.

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake is on at Plymouth's Theatre Royal until Saturday, November 16.